Caltech Playreaders 67th Season: "Silent Sky" by Lauren Gunderson

Directed by Arden Thomas and Introduced by TBD
Produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service. Inc.

Because of her passion for astronomy, a man's world in the early 20th century, Henrietta Leavitt
was recruited by the Harvard College Observatory. She wanted to look at the heavens through
the observatory's telescope, but as it was off-limits to women, she was ordered to join the
female researchers recording raw data from photographic plates of the night sky. Undaunted,
she privately studied the Cepheid variable stars in these plates and ultimately made a
breakthrough that revolutionized scientists' understanding of the immensity of the universe, an
innovation widely used, but not publically acknowledged, in her lifetime. This luminous, gently
humorous play beautifully portrays Leavitt's inner world and oft-times painful journey of
scientific and self-discovery.

Admission is $3.00 for members of the Caltech Women's Club; $4.00 for all others. Light refreshments will be served after the reading.

To dine at the Athenaeum beforehand, call (626) 395-8204 for reservations. Plan to be seated by 5:30. You are welcome to join the Playreaders table.